London · Custom Home Construction
Custom Home Construction in London, Ontario
Byron lots that back onto the Thames valley can lose much of their buildable area to the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority’s slope setback. Most London custom homes replace a post-war bungalow on a wide Byron, Oakridge or Old South lot. Fully vacant infill lots are scarce inside the built-up city.
Custom Homes in London
What’s different in London
| Permit office | City of London Building Division (official site, opens in a new tab) |
|---|---|
| Valley lots | UTRCA sets the setback from the stable top of slope after a geotechnical assessment. Allow 2 to 4 months. |
| Heritage districts | Wortley Village–Old South (2015) and Blackfriars/Petersville. Demolition and the new design both need heritage approval. |
| Built-in ARU | Up to three ARUs with a detached house. Two bedrooms each, and the basement floor above the sewer. |
| New subdivisions | Fox Hollow and Riverbend lots sold through builder groups. Architectural control review takes 2 to 4 weeks. |
| Hydro service | New service from London Hydro on a knock-down. |
Worth knowing first
Design the basement unit in before the first drawing
London’s planning framework welcomes extra units, and Z.-1 allows up to three with a single detached house. Many owners now design a basement or detached ARU into the new house. That choice changes the foundation depth, the sewer and water sizing, the electrical service and the side yard for a separate entrance. Under Section 4.37 the basement floor must also sit above the sanitary sewer serving the house, or the unit can’t be rented. Each ARU stays at 2 bedrooms under the interim rules. A qualifying unit in a new house is exempt from development charges, which the City confirms when permit fees are calculated.
The scope, pricing tiers and 5-step process are the same everywhere we work. See Custom Home Construction ›
Frequently asked questions
Custom Homes in London: three local questions
That depends on the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority’s hazard limits, not just Z.-1 setbacks. On valley lots the UTRCA wants the house kept back from the stable top of slope, set by a geotechnical assessment. On some Byron lots that leaves most of the yard usable. On others it removes the rear half. Plan 2 to 4 months for the UTRCA side.
Sometimes. Many Fox Hollow and Riverbend lots are sold through builder groups, so the house comes with the lot. Where independent lots are sold, the subdivision agreement includes architectural control guidelines for elevations, materials, garage placement and colours. The developer’s architect approves the design before the City accepts the permit, which takes 2 to 4 weeks. Read the Fox Hollow or Riverbend guidelines before you buy.
Yes, for both the demolition and the new design. The Wortley Village–Old South district plan, in force since 2015, asks new buildings to fit the street’s height, setbacks, roof forms and materials. Demolishing a house that contributes to the district is harder to justify than replacing one that doesn’t. Talk to the City’s heritage planners before buying, and allow 4 to 8 months for approvals.
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